Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addressed the Mercedes-Red Bull rivalry of 2021, saying that it resembled two gladiators going at it.
Mercedes and Red Bull contested an epic battle throughout the 2021 season for both the championships. The momentum swung continuously between the two teams, and the result would be decided on the last day of the season.
When the dust had settled in Abu Dhabi, there was nothing to separate the constructors. They had each won one championship, with Red Bull taking the Drivers’ and Mercedes clinching an eighth consecutive Constructors’.
Wolff addressed the Mercedes-Red Bull rivalry of 2021, and revealed that he enjoyed the two-horse race.
As quoted by GP Fans, when asked to assess the differences between the two teams, Wolff said, “It’s hard for me to judge how Red Bull is set up internally.
“Our strength is our attitude and the values we always adhere to. Maybe we can solve problems faster and better because we always take the approach of ‘What did we do wrong?’
“With the Ferrari, the power came from the engine. We knew we could beat them if we managed to make up for the deficit on the straights. Ferrari also made more mistakes. With Red Bull, it was an open exchange of blows, like two boxers taking turns trading punches.”
No excuses
Wolff insisted that he did not think an inferior engine cost them the Drivers’ Championship, but conceded that it was the most unreliable he had seen it.
“We didn’t lose the championship because of the engine, but it’s true we had problems for the first time in eight years,” he remarked.
“At first, it only affected a component from a bad production run. This developed into an epidemic in which the engines lost more power over the period than they used to.”
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